Hong Kong’s John Lee Ka-chiu has defended the introduction of national security clauses for restaurant licences, saying the new requirements also apply to Lunar New Year fair stalls.

The city leader said on Tuesday that the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department had made the decision to help fulfil its legal obligation to safeguard national security.

“When handling new licensing or the renewal of new licences, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department will do their work according to the law,” he said.

“The relevant clauses are also in the rental contracts for the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department’s venues and the issuance of licences, which include Lunar New Year fair stalls and places of public entertainment.”

The department earlier said that it was adding national security-related conditions for licences issued under the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance to ensure document holders fulfilled their duty of safeguarding national security.

The policy covers both new licences and those up for renewal.